Sonya Chowdhury

Since joining Action for M.E. in 2012, Sonya has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of M.E., dispel the stigma and ignorance associated with the condition and has led the charity to achieving real change for the 250,000 people affected by myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E., sometimes known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or CFS). This includes achieving funding for and co-leading the world’s largest genetic ME/CFS study, DecodeME, working collaboratively with charities and patients to establish the Top 10+ Research Priorities for ME through a Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) process and cementing Action for M.E. as a world-leading agent for change for people with M.E.

As a leader, Sonya inspires her team to work tirelessly on behalf of people with M.E., and has overseen a doubling of the charity’s income and activity since she joined. For the first time in decades, there is real positive change on the horizon for people with M.E.; in May 2022 the UK government becoming the first in the world to commit to an Action Plan for M.E. to address the historical stigma and neglect associated with the condition. Sonya has been instrumental to this work.